DENVER – A funny thing happened on the way to the Air Force Open this weekend for the MSU Denver track & field program.
 
The Roadrunners changed gears, and directions, and will compete instead in a triangular hosted by Colorado School of Mines.
 
The opportunity is a good one for Metropolitan State University of Denver athletes while also lending a hand to Colorado State University-Pueblo, the third team involved in the meet, scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at Steinhauer Fieldhouse.
 
In order for qualifying times to count from a dual meet, at least 14 competitors must be present from two teams. CSU-Pueblo was having a hard time getting to 14 on the men's side, while MSU Denver would have preferred to have fewer than 14 compete on the women's side this weekend.
 
So, what had been scheduled to be a dual between CSU-Pueblo and Mines became a triangular when MSU Denver was contacted to gauge its interest. It gives the Roadrunners what they were looking for in terms of competitive numbers heading into next weekend's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships, not to mention the fact that time conversions at Steinhauer Fieldhouse are more favorable than those at Air Force.
 
"Even in the sprints events – there is more time added at Air Force," MSU Denver coach Janis Christopher said. "And you don't get the track-size conversion at Air Force. So it was advantageous to us to have the opportunity to go back to Mines. It was in the best interest of the team as a whole. And any time I can support another Division II institution, I prefer to do that.
 
"It's a bigger track (at Air Force) and there are DI kids. But we don't necessarily get the races we need to get for those last-minute qualifying times for the (RMAC) Championships. We were able to have some girls not compete in order to give them a week off – that's what they need. We were able to bring less than 14 and still get what we need out of the competitive opportunity without having the pressure of having to bring 14."
 
Among the goals for the Roadrunners this weekend include Erica Ruiz (Rohnert Park, Calif./Rancho Cotate) shooting for a stronger NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time in the mile, and for any or all of four men – Brandon Bodner (Aurora, Colo./Grandview), Nick Nowlen (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley), Kyle Jones (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail) and Ruben Gonzalez (Las Cruces, N.M./Centennial, Las Cruces) -- to post an 800 meters time that could get them into the RMAC meet individually.
 
Ruiz currently sits 14^th nationally in the mile with a converted time of 4 minutes, 56.47 seconds. The top 16 performers nationally are invited to the NCAA Division II Championships.
 
"We're going to see if she can move up and run an even faster time to get her in a little safer spot on that national list, a little higher in that top 16 – because you never know what can happen in conference meets," Christopher said. "It's set up nicely for her to have some competition and to hopefully get a good, favorable conversion on that track."
 
Meanwhile in the men's 800, Bodner currently ranks 25^th with a converted time of 1:57.17, Nowlen is 27^th (converted 1:57.63), Jones is 32^nd (converted 1:59.36) and Gonzalez is 34^th (converted 1:59.93). The top 18 performers earn invitations to the conference meet, and the 18^th-best time is currently is a converted 1:55.98.
 
"Small heat, a bunch of guys trying to go about the same speed," Christopher said. "It should be a great opportunity for them to get moved up on the conference list and compete in an individual event."
 
Besides the mile, Ruiz is also provisionally qualified for nationals in the 5,000 (a converted 17:18.05).
 
Others who have provisionally qualified are Sam Berg (Longmont, Colo./Mountain View (Meridian, Idaho)) in the men's 3,000 (8:19.61), Jacob Link (Lafayette, Colo./Centaurus) in the men's 3,000 (8:22.53) and the men's distance medley relay (10:03.51)
 
Meanwhile, many of the sprinters will be tuning up for the RMAC meet.
 
"We don't get to run fast very often, in spikes, without having five pounds of clothes on," Christopher said. "So I always take the opportunity to get them out there. Most of them are only running one event, and I let them choose what they wanted to run. It's kind of fun that way, when you get to run what you want and not what the coach told you to run. I think having some fun with it creates an environment where people can be successful."